This is a privilege or liberty outlined in both the national constitution and that of your specific state of residence. These rights hold the most power for their citizens as they shield their denizens from any abuses that could be implemented by the legal system. They were derived from what was considered to be the most offensive infringements of the British government and were the main elements for why the American Revolution was fought.

These rights must be considered of primary importance by all representatives of the national government.

Do States Have To Follow The National Constitution?

Known as the Bill of Rights, there are 10 Amendments that were instituted with the ratification of the constitution and the states have them automatically implemented in their legal systems by a clause in the 14th Amendment. The rights that states do not have to protect are the “Right to Indictment by Grand Jury and an enforcement for "Excessive Bail."

When It Comes To a Criminal Defense Case, Are There Certain Rights That Are More Important?

Article 1, Section 10

"No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility. "

The protection against "ex post facto" laws means that the State cannot pass a law after a person has committed an act, and then prosecute the person for the prior act. You can only be prosecuted under the laws that are in effect at the time of your act. The protection against "bills of attainder" prevents the State from passing a law meant to punish a specific individual without judicial process.

Fourth Amendment

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

The Fourth Amendment provides general protections against arbitrary search and seizure of persons and property. While there are many exceptions to the Fourth Amendment "warrant requirement," it does provide broad protection of the general public from inappropriate police conduct.

Fifth Amendment

"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."

The Fifth Amendment provides a number of protections that we take for granted. The protection against "double jeopardy" (being tried more than once for the same offense) arises from this Amendment. Similarly, the right to remain silent emerges from a defendant's Fifth Amendment right not to be compelled to be a witness against himself. The Fifth Amendment also provides a broad right to "due process of law." Your "Miranda Rights" come from the Fifth Amendment.

Sixth Amendment

"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense."

The most important Sixth Amendment rights for criminal defendants are the right to assistance of counsel, the right to compel witnesses to appear at trial, the right to cross-examine ("confront") witnesses at trial, the right to trial by jury, and the right to be informed of the nature of the charges that have been filed against you and of potential punishments. Also of significance is the right to a speedy trial which, although frequently waived by defendants, prevents the state from incarcerating defendants for years while their trials are perpetually delayed - a problem that is common in some other countries.

Eighth Amendment

The Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail in federal prosecutions, and bars excessive fines and cruel and unusual punishments in all prosecutions.

Fourteenth Amendment

"Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."

The first Section of the Fourteenth Amendment's most important provisions require that all citizens be granted "equal protection" of the laws. This means that the State and Federal governments cannot deprive an individual or class of people of the rights enjoyed by other persons who are similarly situated. The Fourteenth Amendment also bars the States from violating the "privileges and immunities" of Citizens of the United States. The Fourteenth Amendment expressly extends Due Process rights to state prosecutions, and it is through this clause that the majority of the rights listed in the "Bill of Rights" have been incorporated to the States.

Is A Person Also Protected Under a State Constitution?

In general, the privileges provided in state constitutional documents mirror those of the national constitution. There are states that do afford more protection in certain instances than the federal government. For instance, there are states that do not allow government agents to go throw a citizen’s garbage without a reasonable cause to do so and other states do enable officers to stop drivers at will for traffic checks. These have been upheld by the Supreme Court.

Think of it this way, the rights a citizen receives under their state constitution merely enhances the rights they receive under the federal constitution.